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[7-E-Indian-Coalition]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-45 24:20]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The use of Indian symbols as mascots is under attack.
Native American organizations say it's time for schools to change stereotypical images.
Last night one local organization took its concerns to the Montgomery County school board.
Kate Weidaw has the details.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=the native americans]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :04]
[SUPER=01-Harry Dyer/Unified Coalition; :13]
[SUPER=01-Anna Dolton/Parent; :42]
[SUPER=01-Eric Miller/Unified Coalition; 1:01]
[SUPER=@Kate2; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=kw news 7]
(([SOT 1:37:40]
[INQ=]
((HENRY BRYANT: THE NATIVE AMERICANS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 4]

The Unified Coalition for American Indians Concerns is not happy with the way their culture is represented in some local schools.
[SOT 1:32:54]
[INQ=]
((HARRY DYER/: OF ALL THE PLACES FOR STEREOTYPICAL TYPE OF DEPICTIONS TO BE IT SEEMS THE LAST PLACE IT SHOULD BE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]

Three schools in Montgomery County have Indian symbols as their mascot... the Blacksburg High School Indians, the Blacksburg Middle School Braves, and the Shawsville Shawnees. One parent told the school board that using Native American mascots teaches children it's okay to stereotype a culture.
[SOT 1:42:57]
[INQ=]
((ANNA DOLTON/PARENT: THE INDIAN LOGO HAS A BAD THING TO PUT IN THEIR HEAD BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TEACH THEM RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 7]

The school board did not comment on the organization's ideas to make changes.
But the coalition says this is the perfect time for the board to make changes since new schools are in the works.
[SOT 1:35:40]
[INQ=]
((ERIC MILLER/: THIS IS THE PRIME TIME TO CHANGE UNIFORMS, GYM FLOORS, AND THE LOGO AND MASCOTS CAN BE CHANGED FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 9]

The coalition says until their culture is respected they will continue their fight against stereotypes. Kate Weidaw News 7 Christiansburg.))

[7-E-Earth-Summit]

The Star City was shining yesterday as it made taking care of the environment a top priority.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Local high school students took part in Earth Summit '99, an event organized by the Clean Valley Council.
The students heard from a variety of speakers including Author and ecologist Daniel Botkin.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:17:38]
[IN Q=And we're at a crucial transition]
((DANIEL BOTKIN/ECOLOGIST: AND WE'RE IN A CRUCIAL TRANSITION WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO CHOOSE NATURE OR CIVILIZATION OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO COMBINE BOTH. WE WANT TO COMBINE BOTH AND THE KEY TO THAT IS WHAT THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARN AND HOW THEY THINK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS.))
[SUPER=01-Daniel Botkin/Ecologist]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=how they think about the problem.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Botkin says the most important environmental challenges of the next century will be what he describes as "green issues."
He says they include the future of endangered species, explosive population growth, and efforts to control pollution.
(------------)

[45-Water-Contamination]

They've reportedly known for several weeks but health officials are just now warning residents in Buena Vista not to drink the water.
In August, they found bacteria from animal waste in the public water supply.
Tina Tenret has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Eight year old]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista; :00]
[SUPER=01-Susan Elkin/Mother; :16]
[SUPER=01-Stephen Biddulph/Southern Virginia College Dean; :36]
[SUPER=01-Ron Conner/Virginia Dept. of Health; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Buena Vista]

[45-Chaney]

A teacher's aide at a Roanoke Junior high is facing sexual charges involving a minor.
Salem Police arrested 25-year old Jeffrey R. Chaney yesterday afternoon.
He works at Hidden Valley Junior High.
The arrest follows complains by a 16 year old boy who was NOT a student of the school.
The alleged offenses began in 19-96.
Chaney is charged with taking indecent liberties with a minor, carnal knowledge without force, sodomy, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

[45Weather]

Turning your attention now to the forecast...
Cloudy and cool today, with rain likely through this morning.
Highs in the mid 50s.
Gradual clearing tonight, as lows fall into the lower 40s.
The extended forecast is drier....and slowly warms up by Friday before turning sharply colder on Sunday.
Highs in the 50s...lows in the 30s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Cloudy & Cool/Rain Likely/52-56/Gradual Clearing/Winds NW 5-15/40-44;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[8-E-Wythe-Drugs]

It's being described as the largest crack cocaine bust in Wythe County History.
But others say it has political undertones.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville;]

Monday-- indictments were issued for more than two dozen in Wythe and Pulaski counties following a five month undercover investigation involving local and state police.
The suspects were arrested on charges linked to marijuana.
But Sheriff Kermit Osborne says the majority of the indictments were for selling crack cocaine.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is ]
((KERMIT OSBORNE/WYTHE CO. SHERIFF: THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS COOPERATE BY ATTACKING A MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEM WITH A MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSE. ))
[SUPER=01-Kermit Osborne/Wythe Co. Sheriff; :00]
[runs=10]
[out q= jurisdictional responce.]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville/Last Week;]

Osborne's opponent, former Sheriff Wayne Pike, believes the arrests were timed to take place just weeks before the election-- pointing to his own record while serving as sheriff.
(//////sot////////)
[IN Q= Of the ]
((WAYNE PIKE/WYTHE CO. SHERIFF'S CANDIDATE: OF THE 74 COUNTIES IN VIRGINIA, WITH 50-THOUSAND PEOPLE OR LESS, THE WYTHE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ALWAYS LEAD THE NUMBER OF DRUG ARRESTS AND IN THE COUNTY CLOSEST TO US, WE WERE DOUBLE THEIR ARREST NUMBERS. ))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Pike/Wythe Co. Sheriff's Candidate; :]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=arrest numbers.]
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[ss=Hold]

The head of the Mountain Empire Chapter of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association - who's also a captain in the Wythe County Sheriff's Department - says to say the arrests were politically motivated is an insult to the officers involved.

[8-E-Voter-ID]

When voters head to the polls this year, they may not have to take the new state voter-ID cards.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

A Richmond Circuit Court judge issued an injunction yesterday.
It prohibits the state from sending the cards to voters before November's election.
The cards were going to voters in 10 different jurisdictions.
But state Democrats sued ... saying they go back to the days of Jim Crow laws ... and might keep minorities away from the polls.
The State Board of Elections says its pilot program was supposed to cut down on voter fraud -- NOT influence elections.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]

Governor Gilmore says the state will appeal the injunction.
Gilmore noted that the U-S Justice Department approved the I-D's.

[8-Chaney]

A teacher's aide at Hidden Valley Junior High School has been charged with sexual offenses involving a minor.
Salem Police arrested 25-year old Jeffrey R. Chaney yesterday afternoon.
Police say a 16-year old boy brought complaints to investigators.
The alleged offenses began in 1996.
The youth who complained was not a student at the school.
Chaney is charged with taking indecent liberties with a minor, carnal knowledge without force, sodomy, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

[8Weather]

Before we finish this morning's updates..here's one more look at the forecast.
Cloudy and cool today, with rain continuing this morning.
Highs in the mid 50s.
Gradual clearing will start this afternoon and last through tonight, with a northwest breeze and lows in the lower 40s.
The five day outlook is a mix of clouds and sun...with temperatures mainly in the 50s for highs....lows in the 30s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Cloudy & Cool/Rain Likely/52-56/Gradual Clearing/Winds NW 5-15/40-44;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]